Techniques, and help with them

I've got a couple of questions. My rig is a 7mm Sendero with some modifications (forend material removed, trigger to 2lbs, receiver bedded) and a NF 3.5-15x 56. Man it feels sexy. The groups however are less than impressive. My gunsmith easily gets MOA and less with 160gr Accubonds.

When I'm at the range all I use for front rest is a Caldwell shooting rest. The simple three legged model. I usually have it placed half way between the swivel and the trigger. My left hand is either curled around to my right shoulder or on the beannie. When the gun goes off do I have enough support with this set up to negate any muzzle flip? Hell does muzzle flip have an effect on accuracy?

Second question is what should I see when the gun goes off? Usually the recoil makes me lift my head a inch or two. I've seen guys shooting prone who don't even blink when they send a round down range. Of course I blink.

I'm by no means a great shot, but I do love shooting, so take this into consideration. It sounds to me like your rifle set up is better than average and shooting to what would be expected. You said your gunsmith gets sub moa. I suffered for a few years with what I am expecting is your problem as well, the dreaded flinch. The good news is you can over come this more than admitted ailment.

I will tell you how I over came my flinch and leave the shooting technique to the more skilled and experienced shooters on this site. First step was dry fire trigger practice. This helps develop the proper trigger pull (straight back, controlled squeeze), at the same time not having the recoil, or report of the rifle. I still jump at just the bang of a rifle going off at the range. It is important to squeeze the trigger so slow you won't know when the release will come. This will keep you from anticipating the moment of fire. Hopefully by the time you flinch, the bullet is already out of the barrel. Now do not be in a hurry to get through this stage you have to reprogram your brain and that will take a while. I am not saying don't actually go shooting but put in some dry fire every day.

Second step is to practice follow through. After the shot, how do you react. The best way that I can explain this stage is FREEZE after the shot. Don't lift your head, don't move the rifle back to target, don't move your body, do nothing, even if your eye is no longer looking through the scope, don't move. For now just take the shot and count to 3 till you actually move. This will help from actually moving before or during the shot. You will be more relaxed with the shot.

Now beg, borrow, or buy a 22. cal and get out there and practice practice practice. A 22 allows you to shoot a lot for cheap, and nothing helps more than trigger time. Some of the top shooters still hit the 22 more than their competition rig. You can really challenge yourself at the range with a 22. Hope this helps a little, but in the end you have to find what works for you, so don't be afraid to experiment to see what works. By the way do you reload yourself? This is another great way of getting more accuracy from your shooting.

If you dont have a cheek piece, get one. With my nxs, form improved greatly with one. much more consistant. Mostly because I am not strainingthe rest of my body to keep my head in the same place. A good rear bag helps a lot too. If you are on the bench looking down range. the rifle shoud sit very still except for your breathing.

One more quick thought. Move your rifle into you, not you into the rifle. This gives you a natural hold. Line your body to the target, get into your shooting position, head in as natural a position as possible, then bring the rifle into your shoulder without moving. Support the rifle as solid as possible with what ever you are shooting with.

all of the advice youve received is good. you didnt say wether you load or not. certainly that would help to find the combination best for that gun. also i would try a different rest. a pile of sandbags would be better, or 1 bag on some wood blocks. better yet invest in a good front rest. we use harris bipods often, and they work well. but for real accuracy, i think a rest is better.

Do not reload yet. I do have 13-25 Harris bipod (grass gets real tall down here in Mississippi) but haven't gotten down in the dirt with it so to speak. I thought that the bench rest accuracy would be better.